Louis Couperin
Born: 1626; Chaumes, France
Died: August 29, 1661; Paris, France
|
The Couperin family resembles, in many ways, the Bach family, though on a smaller scale: several generations of Couperins were important figures in the history of French music. Louis Couperin was the uncle to perhaps the best-known member of the Couperin family, François, also known as François le Grand. Louis was the son of Charles Couperin, organist of Chaume, and brother to Charles, also a successful organist and father to François.
...
Read more
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Works
|
|
Allemade grave, for harpsichord in F major (Pièces de Clavecin, No. 67) (2)
|
|
Allemande de la paix for Harpsichord in E minor (1)
|
|
Allemande for Harpsichord in A minor "L' Amiable" (2)
|
|
Allemande for harpsichord in A minor (Oldham MS, Pièces de clavecin, No. 132) (1)
|
|
Allemande for harpsichord in A minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 100) (1)
|
|
Allemande for Harpsichord in C major (3)
|
|
Allemande for harpsichord in C major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 15) (4)
|
|
Allemande for Harpsichord in D major (1)
|
|
Allemande for harpsichord in D major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 58) (1)
|
|
Allemande for harpsichord in D minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 35) (1)
|
|
Allemande for Harpsichord in E minor (1)
|
|
Allemande for harpsichord in F major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 66) (1)
|
|
Allemande for Harpsichord in G minor (1)
|
|
Allemande for harpsichord in G minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 93) (2)
|
|
Allemande grave for Harpsichord in F major (1)
|
|
Allemande l'Amiable, for harpsichord in A minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 101) (2)
|
|
Allemande la Precieuse, for harpsichord in C minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 30) (1)
|
|
Allemandes (2) for Harpsichord in D minor (1)
|
|
Ave Maris Stella "in the Bass" (1)
|
|
Ave Maris Stella a 3 (1)
|
|
Branle de Basque, for harpsichord in F major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 73) (4)
|
|
Canaries (1)
|
|
Canaries, for harpsichord in D minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 52) (3)
|
|
Chaconne for Harpsichord in C major (1)
|
|
Chaconne for harpsichord in C major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 26) (2)
|
|
Chaconne for harpsichord in D major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 62) (1)
|
|
Chaconne for Harpsichord in D minor (1)
|
|
Chaconne for harpsichord in D minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 55) (1)
|
|
Chaconne for harpsichord in F major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 78) (2)
|
|
Chaconne for harpsichord in F major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 80) (1)
|
|
Chaconne for harpsichord in G minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 121) (2)
|
|
Chaconne for Organ (1)
|
|
Chaconne for Organ in D minor (1)
|
|
Chaconne in G minor (3)
|
|
Chaconne la Bergeronette, for harpsichord in C minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 34) (1)
|
|
Chaconne ou Passacaille, for harpsichord (Pièces de clavecin, No. 96) (1)
|
|
Courante for Harpsichord in A minor (1)
|
|
Courante for harpsichord in A minor (Oldham MS, Pièces de clavecin, No. 133) (1)
|
|
Courante for harpsichord in A minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 103) (1)
|
|
Courante for Harpsichord in C major (2)
|
|
Courante for harpsichord in C major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 16) (2)
|
|
Courante for harpsichord in C major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 17) (1)
|
|
Courante for harpsichord in C major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 18) (1)
|
|
Courante for harpsichord in C minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 31) (1)
|
|
Courante for Harpsichord in D major (1)
|
|
Courante for harpsichord in D major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 59) (1)
|
|
Courante for Harpsichord in D minor (1)
|
|
Courante for harpsichord in D minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 38) (1)
|
|
Courante for Harpsichord in E minor (1)
|
|
Courante for Harpsichord in F major (1)
|
|
Courante for harpsichord in F major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 68) (4)
|
|
Courante for harpsichord in F major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 69) (1)
|
|
Courante for Harpsichord in G minor (1)
|
|
Courante for harpsichord in G minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 94) (2)
|
|
Courante La Mignone for harpsichord in A minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 105) (2)
|
|
Courantes (2) for Harpsichord in A minor (2)
|
|
Courantes (3) for Harpsichord in D minor (1)
|
|
Deuxième fantaisie à cinque, for strings (Fantaisies for strings) (1)
|
|
Duo (3)
|
|
Duo for organ (L'oeuvre d'orgue, No. 14) (1)
|
|
Duretez fantaisie (2)
|
|
Fantaisie de Violes (1)
|
|
Fantaisie for organ (L'oeuvre d'orgue, No. 47) (1)
|
|
Fantaisies (2) for viols (Pièces pour les violes) (1)
|
|
Fantaisies: 'Couperin 1664' (1)
|
|
Fantaisies: 'Couperin à Paris le 15e may 1656' (1)
|
|
Fantasy "pour les Violes" for Organ (1)
|
|
Fantasy for Organ [Paris, 12/1656] (1)
|
|
Fantasy in the Bass (1)
|
|
Fantasy on the Crumhorn (1)
|
|
Fantasy on the Tierce of the Grand Clavier (1)
|
|
Fugue sur le Cromhorne, for organ (L'oeuvre d'orgue, No. 20) (1)
|
|
Gaillarde (1)
|
|
Gaillarde for harpsichord in D major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 61) (1)
|
|
Gaillarde for harpsichord in F major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 77) (2)
|
|
Galliard for Harpsichord in F major (1)
|
|
Galliard for Harpsichord in G major (1)
|
|
Gavotte for Harpsichord in D minor (1)
|
|
Gigue for Harpsichord in C major (1)
|
|
Gigue for Harpsichord in C minor (2)
|
|
Gigue for harpsichord in C minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 33) (1)
|
|
Gigue for Harpsichord in D major (1)
|
|
Gigue for Harpsichord in F major (1)
|
|
Gigue for harpsichord in F major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 76) (1)
|
|
Gigue for harpsichord in F major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 79) (1)
|
|
Invitatoire de la feste Dieu (1)
|
|
Iste Confessor (1)
|
|
La Pastourelle for Harpsichord in D minor (1)
|
|
La Pastourelle, for harpsichord in D minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 54) (1)
|
|
La Piémontoise (4)
|
|
La Piémontoise, for harpsichord in A minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 102) (4)
|
|
Les Carillons de Paris (4)
|
|
Les Carillons de Paris, for organ (Pièces d'orgue, No. 140) (1)
|
|
Menuet de Poitou et son Double, for harpsichord in A minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 111) (1)
|
|
Menuet for harpsichord in C major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 29) (1)
|
|
Minuet for Harpsichord in C major (1)
|
|
Pange Lingua "in the Bass" (1)
|
|
Pange lingua (2) à 3 (1)
|
|
Passacaille for Harpsichord in C major (2)
|
|
Passacaille for harpsichord in C major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 27) (2)
|
|
Passacaille for Harpsichord in G minor (4)
|
|
Passacaille for harpsichord in G minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 98) (2)
|
|
Pavane for Harpsichord in F sharp minor (11)
|
|
Pavane for harpsichord in F sharp minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 120) (2)
|
|
Pièce de trois sortes de mouvemens in D minor (1)
|
|
Pieces d'orgue: no 7, Fantasy in F major (1)
|
|
Pièces de Clavecin: no 73, Branle le Basque in F major (2)
|
|
Pièces de Clavecin: no 80, Chaconne in G major (1)
|
|
Piéces de clavecin: Suite in D major (1)
|
|
Pièces de clavecin: Suite in D minor (1)
|
|
Pièces de clavecin: Suite in D minor - Canaries (2)
|
|
Piéces de clavecin: Suite in F major (1)
|
|
Prélude à l'imitation de M Froberger (4)
|
|
Prélude à l'imitation de Mr. Froberger, for harpsichord in A minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 6) (3)
|
|
Prelude for Harpsichord in A major (1)
|
|
Prelude for Harpsichord in A minor (3)
|
|
Prelude for Harpsichord in C major (3)
|
|
Prélude for harpsichord in C major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 10) (2)
|
|
Prélude for harpsichord in C major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 9) (2)
|
|
Prélude for harpsichord in C minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 128) (1)
|
|
Prelude for Harpsichord in D major (1)
|
|
Prélude for harpsichord in D major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 2) (1)
|
|
Prelude for Harpsichord in D minor (3)
|
|
Prélude for harpsichord in D minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 1) (1)
|
|
Prelude for Harpsichord in E minor (1)
|
|
Prelude for Harpsichord in F major (3)
|
|
Prélude for harpsichord in F major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 13) (3)
|
|
Prelude for Harpsichord in G major (2)
|
|
Prelude for Harpsichord in G minor (1)
|
|
Prélude for harpsichord in G minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 3) (1)
|
|
Prélude for harpsichord in G minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 5) (1)
|
|
Prelude in D minor (1)
|
|
Prélude non-mesuré in C major (1)
|
|
Prélude non-mesuré in F major (1)
|
|
Regina Caeli (1)
|
|
Rigaudon et double (2)
|
|
Sarabande en canon for Harpsichord in D minor (1)
|
|
Sarabande en canon for harpsichord in D minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 47) (2)
|
|
Sarabande for Harpsichord (2)
|
|
Sarabande for harpsichord in A major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 113) (1)
|
|
Sarabande for Harpsichord in A minor (2)
|
|
Sarabande for harpsichord in A minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 108) (1)
|
|
Sarabande for harpsichord in A minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 109) (2)
|
|
Sarabande for Harpsichord in C major (1)
|
|
Sarabande for harpsichord in C major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 20) (3)
|
|
Sarabande for harpsichord in C major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 24) (1)
|
|
Sarabande for Harpsichord in C minor (1)
|
|
Sarabande for harpsichord in C minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 32) (1)
|
|
Sarabande for Harpsichord in D major (1)
|
|
Sarabande for harpsichord in D major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 60) (1)
|
|
Sarabande for Harpsichord in D minor (1)
|
|
Sarabande for harpsichord in D minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 56) (1)
|
|
Sarabande for Harpsichord in E minor (1)
|
|
Sarabande for Harpsichord in F major (1)
|
|
Sarabande for harpsichord in F major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 72) (2)
|
|
Sarabande for harpsichord in F major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 74) (1)
|
|
Sarabande for Harpsichord in G major (1)
|
|
Sarabande for Harpsichord in G minor (1)
|
|
Sarabande for harpsichord in G minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 95) (2)
|
|
Sarabandes (2) for Harpsichord in A minor (1)
|
|
Sarabandes (3, untitled) for Harpsichord in D minor (1)
|
|
Simphonies (5) for viols (Pièces pour les violes): Symphonie (1)
|
|
Simphonies: Simphonie à 3 (1)
|
|
Simphonies: Simphonie à 4 (1)
|
|
Suite for Harpsichord in A major (4)
|
|
Suite for Harpsichord in A minor (5)
|
|
Suite for Harpsichord in B flat major (1)
|
|
Suite for Harpsichord in B minor (1)
|
|
Suite for Harpsichord in C major (7)
|
|
Suite for Harpsichord in C minor (1)
|
|
Suite for Harpsichord in C minor: Chaconne la Bergeronnette (1)
|
|
Suite for Harpsichord in D major (5)
|
|
Suite for Harpsichord in D minor (5)
|
|
Suite for Harpsichord in E minor (3)
|
|
Suite for Harpsichord in F major (9)
|
|
Suite for Harpsichord in G major (3)
|
|
Suite for Harpsichord in G minor (3)
|
|
Suite in F (1)
|
|
Symphonies (5) for Viols and Basso Continuo (1)
|
|
Symphonies (5) for Viols and Basso Continuo: Dialogue (1)
|
|
Symphonies (5) for Viols and Basso Continuo: Simphonie (1)
|
|
Tombeau de M de Blanchrocher (7)
|
|
Tombeau pour Mr. de Blancrocher, for harpischord in F major (Pièces de clavecin, No. 81) (3)
|
|
Ut queant laxis for Organ à 3 [12/2/1656] (1)
|
|
Ut queant laxis for Organ à 3 [Paris, 12/1656] (1)
|
|
Volte for Harpsichord in D minor (1)
|
|
Volte, for harpsichord in D minor (Pièces de clavecin, No. 53) (1)
|
|
Work(s) (1)
|
|
Work(s): Chaconne, No. 99 (1)
|
|
Work(s): Suite in a: [Unspecified] Prelude (1)
|
|
Work(s): [Unspecified] Prelude in C (1)
|
|
Work(s): [Unspecified] Prelude in F (1)
|
|
Work(s): [Unspecified] Prelude in g (1)
|
|
Work(s): [Unspeicifed] Sarabande in D minor (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Biography |
by Alexander Carpenter
|
The Couperin family resembles, in many ways, the Bach family, though on a smaller scale: several generations of Couperins were important figures in the history of French music. Louis Couperin was the uncle to perhaps the best-known member of the Couperin family, François, also known as François le Grand. Louis was the son of Charles Couperin, organist of Chaume, and brother to Charles, also a successful organist and father to François.
Very little is known about the early years of Louis' life, other than that he must have received excellent musical training (probably from Chambonnières), for he became an overnight success when he finally arrived in Paris around 1651. Once in Paris, he secured a job as an organist at St. Gervais and also played treble viol in the royal chapel. He was a well-known and well-respected musician in Paris, and was closely connected to many of the most important musicians in the city.
Aproximately 215 of Couperin's works survive today, although it is very likely that he composed many more. Most of his compositions are works for keyboard, and indeed Couperin is considered one of the greatest French keyboard composers of the seventeenth century. His oeuvre includes a great deal of music for organ, including a number of fugues, as well as music for the harpsichord. Couperin's harpsichord music has generated the most interest over the centuries: comprised largely of short dance pieces -- allemandes, courantes, gigues, sarabandes, etc. -- the harpsichord music is remarkable for its intensity and sudden harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic gestures.
Some scholars have suggested that Couperin was one of the first French harpsichord composers to adopt the new basso continuo style; others have noted that his style changed from medium to medium, so that the violin music, the organ music, and the harpsichord music each reveal a different facet of the same fertile musical imagination. |
| |
|
